A first hand witness to some of the greatest moments in rock & roll history, legendary radio host Dennis Elsas will share stories about his four-decade career as a DJ, interviewer, commentator and music fan with New Yorkers throughout Fall 2011. Elsas, who can be heard on WFUV (90.7FM, wfuv.org) on Mondays-Fridays from 2:00-6:00 PM, will present Rock 'N Roll Never Forgets at 92Y Tribeca on Tuesday, October 4 at 7:00 PM. In this presentation, Elsas shares highlights of interviews with the likes of John Lennon and Elton John and reflections on growing up with Top 40 AM radio and his unique perspective as a pioneer of the progressive FM radio revolution. Admission is $18.< /p>
Elsas will expand more about the role media and radio played in bringing rock into the mainstream when he teaches a graduate course at another respected New York institution, Fordham University, this Fall. The course, titled The Rock Revolution in Music and Media, examines the technologies, personalities and artists of the music of the 1960's, how it changed the world and still influences American culture today. Elsas also explores the evolution of media -- from transistor radios to iPods, AM to FM through the rise of MTV - and the musical careers each medium launched.
A Queens native and long-time Westchester resident, Elsas has spent forty years on New York City radio. During his twenty-five years at WNEW and continuing today on WFUV, Elsas has interviewed rock legends including
Paul McCartney,
Mick Jagger,
Jerry Garcia,
Pete Townsend and more. His 1974 interview with
John Lennon has achieved legendary status among rock historians and was one of the first contemporary radio shows to be included in the
Permanent Collection of the Museum of Television and Radio.
WFUV is a non-commercial, listener-supported public radio station, licensed to Fordham University for over 60 years. Serving the New York area as well as an international audience on the web, and a leader in contemporary music radio, WFUV is Rock & Roots Radio, offering an eclectic mix of rock, singer-songwriters, blues, world and other music, plus headlines from National Public Radio and local news.
